Autumn 3 and 1/4

August: Today at the swimming pool you decided to be Mermaid Keanna - you modified your swim moves and then tried flipping like your cousin. On your own you successfully did a front flip 2x.  One of the times after 'mermaid' swimming you came up and said, "I did a Braxton Hicks!"  Your grandma and I laughed hysterically and we know what you've been hearing lately!

                                                             You at  4 months and 3 years

In the bath tonight you were playing with toys and named the sea star ditsy and then said, "This is her mom, she is an occu therapist!"

"I'm cooking some mistakes for us for dinner!"  (aka steaks)

October "I have a new baby the size of a rock.  She is an automatic baby."  M: "What is an automatic baby?"  A: "Oh she eats and poops, that is an automatic baby."

On the Gondola on the way down from the Halloween safety fair a gal joined us.  You talked her ear off, mostly about the scary lady in a mask that offered you candy and then yelled 'boo' as you grabbed for it.  She was terrifying to you. 

You were talking about how your little girl doll would grow up to be a man and I asked why you thought that would happen and you answered, "well Papa says he used to be a little girl."  I explained that Papa was teasing you that he has always been a boy.  You would not believe me until you asked Papa yourself.

On October 2nd you became a big sister!  You eagerly awaited Abby's arrival and love your roll as big sister!  You love to give her kisses, try to get her to smile, talk to her repeating anything I'm saying to her and holding her for a short time - you don't really have the patience to hold her for long.  You ask lots of questions and ask what she is saying when she coos.  I hope you are always as kind and endeared to her your whole life! You are very excited at the prospect of Abby being a little girl and getting to share a bunk bed with her.

November: Your dad was watching a show about Rockefeller and talking about accomplishing things by the time he's 37 and you said, "Oh dad, just be a waffle."

When you start to be a pill doing things you should not, you will start to say, "Oh mom, I'm just being funny."

You said that you were going to marry a friend and I explained a marriage is between a girl and a boy like Jackson or Carson and most importantly that you marry a man that loves Jesus. You asked, "Does Carson love Jesus?" I answered yes and so you said, "Then I'll take him."  You've talked on an off about marrying Carson ever since.  Just the other day you told me you were 18 and so I said I guess you need to leave for college. You said, "No, Carson will be older and I'll be older and so we'll be married and live in Oahu."  Oh dear, the boy drama begins!  You enjoy playing pretend weddings with your daddy and I and then go get you picture book so we can look through the "wedding" album after the ceremony.

Abby filled her diaper and I said, "Hello poop!"  You thought it was the funniest thing and laughed for at least 10 minutes. Now you enjoy saying it when we hear that familiar sound.

As part of the recreation center's Halloween party we got to go ice skating - you thought it was so much fun and by the end was able to skate with the walker without help! You grinned ear to ear most of the time we were there and I think would have stayed all night!

You passed your first swim lessons with flying colors!  You are so comfortable in the water and had no problem doing everything they asked - head under, supported floating and supported front stroke...  You seemed to really enjoy it!

You enjoy and frequently use the words - particular and actually

You went through a stage of pretending to be my mom and then responding, "no I'm your mom, I don't have to do that." when I would ask you to do something - let's just say this didn't go over very well.

You had your first dentist visit and did awesome - letting them take x-rays and clean your teeth! They are in wonderful shape because you brush and floss every day!

We set up for Christmas and at the beginning of decorating you said, "this is the happiest I've ever been!"  You have really enjoyed every aspect of Christmas and ask a lot of questions about Jesus.  You helped with 3 trees - ours, Aunt Laurale's, Great Grandma's, set up lights with dad and made a gingerbread house with us.  On the 1st we got to go to Grand Junction and watch the light parade. You sat next to your cousin Taylor and sat in my lap. You really enjoyed watching the floats!

We met Grandma and Papa at the Children's Museum and you had so much fun at the fire station, building, with the balls, in the grocery store, dancing with tap shoes and running around in the trees. You even took an Ukulele lesson and was the lead singer for 2 songs! You are so self confident.  We then went to the Spaghetti Factory and got to sit in the train car.  You asked everyone that came by for chocolate chips and then at the end of the meal shouted to our waiter in the distance, "I'm ready for my Popsicle now!"   It was a wonderful day!

Things you enjoy - dressing up and roll playing with your babies and stuffed animals, your notebook to write clues in, coloring, drawing, crafts, collecting anything someone gives you - even fabric scraps, roll play all day long as families we know ("I'm Ashton and you are Lisa"), talking - there are times you hardly take a breath for a whole hour, dressing up and changing clothing, parks, swimming at the hot springs with Papa, swimming anywhere, running around, princesses (you've now watched Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella), Micky Mouse, and Busy Town buddies.

Autumn, you are our sweet, sassy, wonderful, fun loving, thoughtful and full of energy girl! We love you more than words and tell!!

Love, Momma and Daddy